this is based on the tut found by Robert just my rough tinker
ctestnew.mov
warning the project has settings tweaked to look better in the chor window as apposed to model and has a few issue that need to be tweaked
ctestnew.zip
will have to check not sure have you tired anything
\\quicktest
spritetest.mov
looks like sprites started later (emission rate changed after 30 frames from 0 to 100 percent to 0) synced with original sprites sent out 30 frames earlier
Spent about 2 hours trying to get this simple idea to work and needed hair to be controlled by a pose to turn petals on at the end but did not work but the thought is still there
earthday.mov